DUSHANBE, November 26, 2014, Asia-Plus – The Islamic Revival Party (IRP) leader Muhiddin Kabiri has participated in a conference on Takfiri extremism that has taken place in Qom, Iran.

“In his statement, Muhiddin Kabiri made an emphasis on extremism in literature, video materials and sermons of religious leaders,” an official source at IRP’s head office in Dushanbe told Asia-Plus in an interview.

“Kabiri noted that they talk of armed extremist a lot now but nothing is talked of extremism in literature, video materials and sermons,” said the source.  “IRP leader called  on religious leaders of Muslim world to refrain from insulting other Muslims, followers of other religions in their sermons.”  

“ Kabiri said that Muslim youth are today under pressure of secular authoritarian regimes on the one side and under pressure of religious fanatics on the other side.  Political, economic and religious restrictions as well as lack of decent life push Muslim youth to the arms of armed extremists,” the source noted.

The World Congress on Extremist and Takfiri Movements in the Islamic Scholars’ View was held in Qom on November 23-24.

In Islamic law, takfir refers to the practice of excommunication, one Muslim declaring a non-Muslim or an apostate, an unbeliever or kafir .  Extremist movements that practice takfir such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Takfir wal-Hijra and GIA usually regard virtually all Muslims that do not adhere to their ideology as kafirs .  These groups have been condemned by orthodox and mainstream Muslims.

Iranian media sources note that the event brought together prominent Muslim scholars from 83 countries.  200 Shi’a scholars and 100 Sunni scholars including muftis and prominent figures were reportedly present at the international gathering.

Jointly organized by two of Iran’s prominent religious clerics Grand Ayatollah’s Makarem Shirazi and Grand Ayatollah Sobhani the congress is one of the few occasions where top Muslim Shiite and Sunni clerics and scholars from across the world were seen under one roof to exchange views on a subject which has turned into the biggest challenge for the world of Islam next to the issue of Palestine.

The increase of horrific crimes against ordinary Muslims by groups such as al-Qaeda and the ISIL in the name of Islam has now turned into an alarm signal for the scholars that gathered in Qom to draw a clear separation line between Islam and Terrorism.

The congress was reportedly centered on the role of top Muslim clerics or Ulama, in uniting the Islamic world against Takfiri terrorists.

The main objectives of the congress were reportedly in: confronting the ISIL (Extremist and Takfiri) in the Muslim world; inviting to peace, to friendship, to brotherhood among religions and emphasizing on interactions among them based on wisdom, preaching and exchange; determination in enlightening the Muslims about the evil nature of the ISIL; unifying the Muslims and expanding motives to integrate Muslims against ISIL; and illustrating the deceptive plot of the ISIL.